SAMSTARplus: An Automatic Tool for Generating Multi- Dimensional Schemas from an Entity-Relationship Diagram

This paper presents a tool that automatically generates multidimensional schemas for data warehouses from OLTP entity-relationship diagrams (ERDs). Based on user’s input parameters, it generates star schemas, snowflake schemas, or a fact constellation schema by taking advantage of only structural information of input ERDs. Hence, SAMSTARplus can help users reduce efforts for designing data warehouses and aids decision making

Parallel Fourier ptychographic microscopy for high-throughput screening with 96 cameras (96 Eyes)

We report the implementation of a parallel microscopy system (96 Eyes) that is capable of simultaneous imaging of all wells on a 96-well plate. The optical system consists of 96 microscopy units, where each unit is made out of a four element objective, made through a molded injection process, and a low cost CMOS camera chip. By illuminating the sample with angle varying light and applying Fourier Ptychography, we can improve the effective brightfield imaging numerical aperture of the objectives from 0.23 to 0.3, and extend the depth of field from ±5 μm to ±15 μm. The use of Fourier Ptychography additionally allows us to computationally correct the objectives’ aberrations out of the rendered images, and provides us with the ability to render phase images. The 96 Eyes acquires raw data at a rate of 0.7 frame per second (all wells) and the data are processed with 4 cores of graphical processing units (GPUs; GK210, Nvidia Tesla K80, USA). The system is also capable of fluorescence imaging (excitation = 465 nm, emission = 510 nm) at the native resolution of the objectives. We demonstrate the capability of this system by imaging S1P_1-eGFP-Human bone osteosarcoma epithelial (U2OS) cells

Parallel Fourier ptychographic microscopy for high-throughput screening with 96 cameras (96 Eyes)

We report the implementation of a parallel microscopy system (96 Eyes) that is capable of simultaneous imaging of all wells on a 96-well plate. The optical system consists of 96 microscopy units, where each unit is made out of a four element objective, made through a molded injection process, and a low cost CMOS camera chip. By illuminating the sample with angle varying light and applying Fourier Ptychography, we can improve the effective brightfield imaging numerical aperture of the objectives from 0.23 to 0.3, and extend the depth of field from ±5 μm to ±15 μm. The use of Fourier Ptychography additionally allows us to computationally correct the objectives’ aberrations out of the rendered images, and provides us with the ability to render phase images. The 96 Eyes acquires raw data at a rate of 0.7 frame per second (all wells) and the data are processed with 4 cores of graphical processing units (GPUs; GK210, Nvidia Tesla K80, USA). The system is also capable of fluorescence imaging (excitation = 465 nm, emission = 510 nm) at the native resolution of the objectives. We demonstrate the capability of this system by imaging S1P_1-eGFP-Human bone osteosarcoma epithelial (U2OS) cells

Effects of driving style and bedding in pigs transported to slaughterhouse in different temperatures

Animal welfare during transport became an largely issue because of increasing demand for improved animal welfare standards. Most studies on the animal welfare during transportation have concentrated on the atmosphere and the temperature of the truck compartments. Thus, the objective of study was to collect and quantify three axis acceleration and determine the effect of bedding for transporting pigs from farm to slaughterhouse. A total of 2,840 crossbred fattening pigs with a live weight of approximately 115 kg were used. They were raised in the same commercial farms and transported to the same commercial slaughterhouse. A 3×2×2 completely randomized factorial design was used to investigate effects of rubber type bedding (bedding or non-bedding) and two levels of driving style (aggressive or normal) in three different time periods with different outside temperatures. Air temperature treatments were as follow: high temperature ([HT] higher than 24°C); low temperature ([LT] lower than 10°C); normal temperature ([NT] 10°C to 24°C). In our experiment, pigs transported under aggressive driving style showed lower (p < 0.05) pH and water holding capacity (WHC) than those transported under normal driving style. Pigs transported under normal driving style showed a lower percentage of drip loss (DL) (p < 0.05) than those transported with an aggressive driving style. Also, transported with bedding showed higher (p < 0.05) lying behavior but lower (p < 0.05) sitting behavior than those transported without bedding. Pigs transported under normal driving style showed lower (p < 0.05) cortisol level than those transported under aggressive driving style. In conclusion, aggressive driving style cause acute stress in pigs, while bedding helps alleviate acute stress in pigs during transportation in LT

A Newsvendor Non-Cooperative Game for Efficient Allocation of Carbon Emissions

We analytically investigate the impacts of several efficient carbon emissions allocation schemes in a cap-and-trade carbon trading system. Subject to each firm’s allowances restriction, a policy maker accumulates all remaining and exceeding carbon emission allowances over the industry at the end of the accounting year. We develop three new allocation schemes for allocating these total carbon emissions to each firm: Separate Payment (SP), Deterministic Equal Splitting (DES) and Allocation proportion to unit Carbon Emission (ACE). Using a Stackelberg framework based on a newsvendor non-cooperative game, we show that our suggested allocation schemes reduce total carbon emissions by aligning the firms with a single and common objective of “reducing total emissions”, not merely “meeting individual’s allowances”. We characterize the conditions under which SP and DES can equally generate fewer total carbon emissions than ACE. Moreover, we identify the condition in which DES can dominate SP in terms of a firm’s profit while DES and SP generate the same total carbon emissions. Our numerical studies further demonstrate that DES outperforms SP in terms of a firm’s financial performance depending on the gap between the firms’ unit emission rates. This study provides a useful guideline to enhance the firms’ profit while reducing total carbon emissions in the industry

Mechanical measurements of ultra-thin amorphous carbon membranes using scanning atomic force microscopy

The elastic modulus of ultra-thin amorphous carbon films was investigated by integrating atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging in contact mode with finite element analysis (FEA). Carbon films with thicknesses of similar to 10 nm and less were deposited on mica by electron beam evaporation and transferred onto perforated substrates for mechanical characterization. The deformation of these ultra-thin membranes was measured by recording topography images at different normal loads using contact mode AFM. The obtained force-distance relationship at the center of membranes was analyzed to evaluate both the Young's modulus and pre-stress by FEA. From these measurements, Young's moduli of 178.9 +/- 32.3, 193.4 +/- 20.0, and 211.1 +/- 44.9 GPa were obtained for 3.7 +/- 0.08, 6.8 +/- 0.12, and 10.4 +/- 0.17 nm thick membranes, respectively. Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy were used for characterizing the chemical and structural properties of the films, including the content of sp(2) and sp(3) hybridized carbon atoms

Graphene-Based Actuators

A bilayer ???paper,??? composed of adjacent graphene oxide and MWCNT layers each approximately 10-??m thick, is fabricated by simple sequential filtration of an aqueous suspension of MWCNTs and then graphene oxide platelets, and demonstrated as the first case of a macroscopic graphene-based actuator. The papers curl (see image) depending on humidity and/or temperature

Evaluation of elastic modulus of ultra-thin vermiculite membranes by contact mode atomic force microscopy imaging

Mechanical properties of nanometer-thick multilayer vermiculite, a layered silicate, were investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM) contact mode imaging. Membranes suspended over circular holes were with exfoliated vermiculite platelets. The elastic modulus and pre-stress of each membrane were obtained using AFM combined with finite element analysis. The exfoliated multilayer vermiculite membranes had an average in-plane elastic modulus and average pre-stress of 175 +/- 16 GPa and 55 +/- 13 MPa, respectively

Inactivation of E. Coli in Water Using Photocatalytic, Nanostructured Films Synthesized by Aerosol Routes

TiO2 nanostructured films were synthesized by an aerosol chemical vapor deposition (ACVD) method with different controlled morphologies: columnar, granular, and branched structures for the photocatalytic inactivation of Escherichia coli (E. coli) in water. Effects of film morphology and external applied voltage on inactivation rate were investigated. As-prepared films were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), and UV-VIS. Photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical inactivation of E. coli using as-prepared TiO2 films were performed under irradiation of UVA light (note: UVA has a low efficiency to inactivate E. coli). Inactivation rate constants for each case were obtained from their respective inactivation curve through a 2 h incubation period. Photocatalytic inactivation rate constants of E. coli are 0.02/min (using columnar films), and 0.08/min (using branched films). The inactivation rate constant for the columnar film was enhanced by 330% by applied voltage on the film while that for the branched film was increased only by 30%. Photocatalytic microbial inactivation rate of the columnar and the branched films were also compared taking into account their different surface areas. Since the majority of the UV radiation that reaches the Earth’s surface is UVA, this study provides an opportunity to use sunlight to efficiently decontaminate drinking water